A MEMBRANE OXYGEN EXTRACTION UNIT FOR LIFE SUPPORT IN A CHEMICALLY CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENT

IN THE EVENT OF WAR, IT IS LIKELY THAT TOXIC VAPORS MAY BE ENCOUNTERED BY TROOPS UNDER ATTACK. THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES THE USE OF A MEMBRANE SYSTEM ABLE TO SELECTIVELY REMOVE OXYGEN FROM FEED AIR. WITH A SUITABLE MEMBRANE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO PRODUCE A PERMEATE GAS CONTAINING 25-30 VOL% OXYGEN AND LESS THAN 1% OF THE ORIGINAL CHEMICAL AGENT IN THE FEED AIR. THE MEMBRANE SYSTEM CAN BE MADE COMPACT, LIGHTWEIGHT AND REQUIRES NO CHANGE OF ABSORPTION CARTRIDGES OR FILTERS. THE TECHNOLOGY FOR PRODUCING THE MEMBRANE MODULES AND SYSTEMS IS ALREADY DEVELOPED, BUT SUITABLE MEMBRANE MATERIALS ARE LACKING. THESE MATERIALS WILL BE DEVELOPED IN THE PHASE I PROGRAM. IN THE PHASE II PROGRAM, A PROTOTYPE UNIT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED AND EVALUATED.